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Referee

JP (John Paul) Doyle is a referee that all English rugby fans will know. Having risen up the ranks quickly in the RFU, JP became a full time referee in 2008 as part of the RFU's elite referee trainee program,
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Nigel Owens was born on the 18 June 1971 and raised in Mynyddcerrig; a small traditional Welsh speaking village approximately 12 miles from Carmarthen, in south west Wales. As a keen sportsman, Owens played Full Back for the school rugby team, but after missing a crucial match-winning conversion, the teacher made a tongue in cheek comment that he should consider becoming a referee. It was a half joking throw away comment which could have been instantly forgotten, but by happy coincidence it would change his life, because Owens thought to himself “Why not?’
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As we approach the start of the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England, we are going to look at what the term 'Clear & Obvious' means to a referee, and the greater team of 4 in general.

During the world cup, the match officials will be under a greater degree of scrutiny than has ever been seen before, the desire to get every decision correct is there, but perfection is something even that even the best teams have not yet achieved.

Perfection for a team would surely mean that no player drops a ball, every pass goes where intended, every tackle is made, and every kick is successful. However, as supporters we understand that this is near impossible to do over a full 80 minutes. The dynamics of the game, along with the unpredictability of the opposition defence means that mistakes will happen, but it's how you over come them that really defines the team.
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John Lacey is a classic example of a "poacher turned gamekeeper". He was born in Tipperary on 12 October 1973, making him 41 heading into this years Rugby World Cup.

John Lacey played rugby professionally on the wing, or at full back for Munster, scoring 114 tries at Senior club level. Debuting for Munster at the tender age of 18, he made six Heineken Cup appearances for the province. He is one of two referees at this years Rugby World Cup who have played professionally as well, the other being New Zealand's Glen Jackson.
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